New stars will shine for Sooners, in time
A.D. and Rufus are gone, but Oklahoma has plenty of players ready to step into the spotlight
New stars will shine for Sooners, in time

By John Helsley

Published: August 26, 2007

NORMAN — DeMarcus Granger shrugs off the news that Oklahoma landed only three players on the Preseason All-Big 12 First Team, a startlingly low figure for a defending league champion with 18 starters back from the conference title game.

Truth is, Granger is part of the problem — or perception.

He's but a pup, like so many of these Sooners. But that doesn't mean he, or they, can't play.

"It's just a matter of time,” said Granger, a sophomore tackle being counted on to help anchor the defensive front. "The way I look at it, our whole defense is going to be on that All-Big 12 team.”

Gone are Adrian Peterson and Rufus Alexander, the recognized stars of recent seasons.

This Sooners squad is known as much for who's next as who's now.

And yet, all-conference team aside, there's plenty of respect aimed at OU. See the No. 8 ranking in the coaches and AP polls.

Hear all the excitement kicking up around the Sooners, creating as much buzz as any team in the league.

It's just that much of the optimism rests with players who are only now reaching their college peak, if not guys who have yet to make any mark at all.

The roster features but 17 seniors, of whom nine are projected starters, with two of those filling the roles of kicker and punter. And that's after only nine seniors moved on from a year ago.

"We have the ability to be a great team,” said junior wide receiver Malcolm Kelly, who returns after leading the team in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2006.

Consider Kelly as Exhibit A in the case that these Sooners could be on the verge of a breakout.

As a sophomore a year ago, Kelly tied a school record with 11 receptions against Texas Tech and set a Big 12 title game mark with 10 grabs and 142 yards. Those were but highlights in a sensational season (although he was curiously missing from the preseason All-Big 12 mention).

Yet Kelly was the only current player worthy of consideration for this section's list of 100 greatest Sooners, barely making the cut at 100.

That's not an indictment of OU's talent. It's a reminder of this team's youth.

These Sooners are built on that tantalizing, yet cautionary term: potential.

"Potential means you haven't done anything, yet,” said Sooners co-defensive coordinator Bobby Jack Wright.

Some of the most intriguing and important Sooners — the quarterbacks, running back DeMarco Murray, linebacker Ryan Reynolds, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, offensive tackle Phil Loadholt — have done zip.

But despite the overwhelming youthfulness of a two-deep dominated by 36 underclassmen, there's ample experience on both sides of the ball as well.

Kelly highlights a dynamic junior class that also features cornerback Reggie Smith, the preseason pick for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

That class is significant because the junior year is typically a time when many players start putting it all together.

"You're looking at guys coming into their third year, so they should be better,” Wright said. "They kind of feel it and feed off each other. They're like, ‘Hey, we've been here. It's time for us to really be good.' ”

Smith is a likely contender to be included when the 100 greatest Sooners list gets a later update.

The all-conference team may require a crimson-colored overhaul.

"Everybody's coming back,” Kelly said. "That's the thing that gives me confidence in the team. I don't worry about any positions on the field.

"I know a lot of people worry about the quarterback situation. The line is going to give those guys time. The running backs are going to make plays. The whole secondary is coming back. I don't really have any worries.”

Comments